Last night as I was falling asleep thinking ‘snow’…hoping for ‘snow’…wanting ‘snow’…it hit me – Do I think this way about Christ’s return? Do I wait for it? Do I hope for it? Do I anticipate it like I should? Do I live expectantly for His return?
What does the Lord say to us about Christ’s return in His word? A lot(more than 300 times in New Testament)…but here are a few key scriptures that spoke to me as I searched out the answer for myself:
Do we know when He will return? Should we be waiting and ready?
Mark 13.31-36
31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. 35 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.
John 14.2-3
2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
2 Timothy 4.7-8
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
How are we to live while we wait?
Titus 2.11-4
11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
Why do we wait?
Philippians 3.20-21
20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Revelation 21.4
4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
So, should we anticipate Christ’s return like we(teachers…lol) anticipate snow? YES and more so! This gentle reminder from the Lord reminded me we should be living as if Christ could return today…because, yes, He can!
S tay focused on the Lord daily…
N ever losing sight of our eternal home…
O pen and willing to share His love with others…
W ith anticipation of HIS return!